Oxford, 1917. A professor is murdered and his only student, John, learns the truth about his education: He has been being groomed to become the Caretaker of the Imaginarium Geographica, an atlas of imaginary worlds.
Along with his new companions, Jack and Charles, and their guide, Bert, John just manages to escape the clutches of a terrifying pack of Wendigo and flees Oxford aboard the Indigo Dragon -- a ship manned by fauns and captained by Bert's Pirate Queen daughter, Aven.
Their first stop? Avalon.
From there, they journey further into the Imaginary Lands, determined to save them from the Winter King, who is just as determined to bring the entire world under his control and place it in eternal Shadow. Nemo, the Green Knight, Deucalion, the Loch Ness monster and Pandora's Box all make cameo appearances. There are also references to Lewis Carroll, J. M. Barrie, Charles Dickens, King Arthur, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe and others.
The back of the review copy reveals the true identities of the three adventurers, but I'd rather not do that here.
While the idea itself is fabulous and fun -- I was so excited to read this book -- I found the actual prose disappointing and distracting.
It read like an expanded screenplay of a big-budget B-movie, complete with hokey and cliched dialogue. The characters were likable, but they never felt like real people to me. There was a whole lot of TELL, rather than SHOW, going on.
I could have gotten past it if the adventures themselves were cliched -- since we're working from the concept that this world is what inspired all of our Great Classics, that would make sense -- but it was the dialogue that killed it for me.
I have an ARC copy too, and I read the back and was pissed that they gave away the characters' identities. I've been putting off reading it because of this.
Too bad, it has such an awesome cover.
Posted by: Mandy | 18 September 2006 at 11:55 AM
I too have had this puppy in my pile for some time. I really hoped it would be worth the cover, but your review has eased my heart on the matter. Off I go to read better stuff.
Posted by: Fuse #8 | 18 September 2006 at 12:12 PM
That irritated me about the back cover, too. I hope it didn't end up on the finished product. I can see where they'd think it would boost sales -- it probably will -- but a little HINT would have been better than flat-out TELLING the reader who they are.
Keep in mind though, that some people really loved it.
Posted by: Leila | 18 September 2006 at 12:16 PM
Yep, I'm in the "love it" camp - especially for boys who might be a bit on the reluctant side when it comes to reading bigger books. I have the book reviewed in my current column at Bookslut if you want an alternate opinion. (And Leila and I are very good at agreeing to disagree - combined we give you the most well rounded opinion possible! ha!)
They actually gave away the identities in the catalog which really surprised me. I've emailed with the author and James had no idea they were going to do that (which is why he saved it until the end). But the marketing folks decided it would be a good hook. I think they were very wrong on that idea, but too late to change it.
I do understand that James did a bunch of research in writing the book (on the real lives of the principles) and from what he dug up I've become rather curious about their real lives. I did love the one surprise reveal at the end - I honestly had not seen that one coming at all. Oh - also he has finished the sequel and maybe that will iron out some of the dialog concerns, Leila.
Posted by: Colleen | 18 September 2006 at 04:17 PM
Hi Leila -
Sorry you didn't like the dialogue - everyone's got their own tastes! The second book is certainly slower to start, and actually deals more with characterization than plot (although there's plenty of plot). But I don't know that the dialogue is all that different... :(
And yes - for the reasons cited, I didn't want ANYONE to know who they were reading about until the last pages (in disagreement with my editor, who wanted it on the front cover!) I wanted people to read it for itself, first - and not have them wondering about the characters' real identities. (Although I don't touch it often - in the next book, they remain John, Jack, and Charles - the last names are never addressed again.)
And no, it's NOT on the back of the finished book! (Thank God.)
Hope you liked the pictures, at least!
Posted by: James A. Owen | 18 September 2006 at 06:40 PM
I hate it when a good idea is written badly. It's always disappointing.
I do really, really, really love the cover picture. The sea monster dragon thing is adorable.
Posted by: natalie_eve | 18 September 2006 at 07:08 PM
As James hinted in his post the final edition is illustrated, unlike the ARCs. I've seen some of the pics on his site - they are fantastic and will really add to the story for those reluctant readers.
Posted by: Colleen | 19 September 2006 at 02:42 AM
My copy is illustrated, and I did really like them -- Josh asked me to mention that he ESPECIALLY liked the Aven picture -- and they fit so well with the story.
Colleen, I TOTALLY didn't see that one coming -- because of that specific character's first description, I'd assumed that the character was originally from the Imaginary Lands. And it did definitely occur to me that the author must have done a ton of research ahead of time.
James, I'm so glad that you won out about the names on the back cover! (Though I do understand why your editor would want to use them as a hook, too.) Good luck with it. (And the following books, too.)
Posted by: Leila | 19 September 2006 at 06:31 AM
I have to say I was disappointed by this book. The idea had soo much potential, which I don't think was realized.
The whole time I was reading it, I just kept thinking of things he should have done.
They may have taken the names of the characters off the back of the book, but all the publicity for it mentioned who they were.
Posted by: Kari | 07 July 2008 at 10:48 AM